‘Their health is going to suffer:’ food service funding ends for local seniors

Now, the association must look for different ways to stretch their resources at a time when inflation continues sending the price of food up.

Hollins said as a result of the expiring funding they’re down to about one-third of the money they previously had to operate.

Money from the province was administered locally through United Way BC with the north-central Vancouver Island branch working with NFLA to finance their programs.

Hollins told NanaimoNewsNOW the forced cut to services impacts quality of life for those who rely on them.

A lack of a healthy diet not only has immediate repercussions, but also longer term health issues. The program included meals and groceries dropped off weekly to seniors’ doors, many of which lack social interactions.

“I can’t speak enough about the value for an older adult who is socially isolated to have somebody coming to their house once a week to say ‘here’s your groceries, how are you doing?” Hollins said. “We have had situations in my agency where volunteers have called saying ‘hey, I’m outside this home, this person isn’t answering, what should I do?'”

Attempts to return to prior funding levels are ongoing, according to Hollins.

She said associations like hers regularly lobby government for resources so they can help more people in their respective communities.

“There definitely is conversation ongoing, I remain hopeful that food security will become a very serious issue that government starts to respond to in a systemic way, much like housing is now. Nobody can deny that is a serious issue in our community, food security is right there next to it.”

Greg Brown picks up items for one of the many seniors clients he works with through Nanaimo Family Life Association. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Greg Brown is one of many volunteers with NFLA.

On Friday, he completed his final grocery shop under the NFLA banner for the half-a-dozen or so seniors he regularly supports.

Armed with a list, Brown shopped the aisles of Save-On-Foods at Country Club Centre picking up items for people he’s gotten to know intimately over the last two-and-a-half years he’s been volunteering.

“I just try to be that friendly person, if I can be their only bright spot of the week…there’s a couple that have my number so we text back and forth and talk about the Canucks, hockey or football or whatever. They’ve basically become extensions of my family.”

Brown said all of his clients are on some form of government subsidy, whether welfare or housing. All have serious health issues making getting out and about challenging, if not impossible.

None of them have family supports in town either.

Information about the ending the funding was communicated at the start of the year, giving time for volunteers and seniors to try and make alternative arrangements.

Brown said his clients are concerned.

“They’ve paid taxes, they’ve worked all their lives and through no fault of their own they’re sick, immobile and it’s like society has cast them aside. One of the guys I dropped food off for, he says ‘oh well, I guess I’ll be eating more hot dogs now.’ Well, that’s not going to help his health in anyway shape or form.”

He added he plans to continue checking in and has agreed to keep doing weekly grocery shops for the people he’s worked with in the past, away from the NFLA umbrella.

A letter Brown sent earlier this month to multiple B.C. government ministries, ministers, local and regional politicians has so far gone unanswered.

In a statement to NanaimoNewsNOW, the ministry of health said when the funding was extended for one year in March 2022, those accessing it were advised to shift over to “Better at Home” agencies to continue supporting clients.

Better at Home provides various non-medical supports including grocery shopping, but not necessarily ready-made meal delivery.

“Safe Seniors, Strong Communities, is a temporary COVID-19 response program which is now winding down. From its inception to Dec. 31, 2022, the SSSC program reached 34,176 seniors, engaged 15,706 volunteers, and delivered 1,221,236 services,” the ministry’s statement read. “There has been a steady and significant decline in demand in SSSC services as seniors regain their social networks.”

The province also touted its investments into seniors care, spending around $2 billion since 2017 on seniors health and wellbeing.

Join the conversation. Submit your letter to NanaimoNewsNOW and be included on The Water Cooler, our letters to the editor feature.

info@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @NanaimoNewsNOW

by Alex Rawnsley

‘Their health is going to suffer:’ food service funding ends for local seniors

More Local News